DPS releases documents to back up its 'jars of feces' statements

Kolten Parke, Houston Chronicle

By Kolten Parker

Updated 3:31 pm, Monday, August 26, 2013

Texas state troopers stand in the Capitol rotunda as they watch opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, after the Texas House made their final vote, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The approved bill, which now goes to the Texas Senate, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas state troopers stand in the Capitol rotunda as they watch...

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House after the final vote, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill, which now goes to the Texas Senate, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House...

Hope Phillips, and opponent of HB 2, an abortion bill, yells with others outside the Texas House after the final vote, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill, which now goes to the Texas Senate, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Hope Phillips, and opponent of HB 2, an abortion bill, yells with...

Hope Phillips, an opponent of HB 2, an abortion bill, yells with others outside the Texas House after the final vote, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill, which now goes to the Texas Senate, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Hope Phillips, an opponent of HB 2, an abortion bill, yells with...

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House after the final vote, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The bill, which now goes to the Texas Senate, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House...

DPS troopers keep an eye on protestors congregating in the rotunda area in the state capitol building on July 10, 2013.

DPS troopers keep an eye on protestors congregating in the rotunda...

Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, holds a sonogram showing his unborn son during final remarks before a provisonal vote on HB 2, an abortion bill,Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill, which passed, would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, holds a sonogram showing his unborn...

Abortion opponent Madison Salmons, right, 14, of Mesquite, Texas, prays outside the Capitol in Austin, Texas on Tuesday July 9, 2013, as the Texas House debated tough new abortion restrictions prior to taking part in a planned vote on the measure. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Jay Janner)
Photo: Jay Janner, AP

Anti-abortion supporters take part in a rosary procession around the Texas Capitol as the Texas House debates HB 2, a bill that will place restrictions on abortion in the state, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anti-abortion supporters take part in a rosary procession around...

Anti-abortion supporters pray outside the Texas Capitol as the Texas House debates HB 2, a bill that will place restrictions on abortion in the state, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anti-abortion supporters pray outside the Texas Capitol as the...

Anti-abortion supporters sing in the rotunda of the Texas Capitol as the Texas House debates HB 2, a bill that will place restrictions on abortion in the state, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anti-abortion supporters sing in the rotunda of the Texas Capitol...

A woman carries a sign as she marches with other pro-abortion rights supporters through downtown Austin, Texas on Monday evening, July 8, 2013. The Texas House began debating a bill on Tuesday that would impose tough new restrictions on abortions. (AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Alberto Martinez)
Photo: Alberto Martínez, AP

A woman carries a sign as she marches with other pro-abortion...

Supporters of HB 2, an abortion bill, react in the gallery of the Texas House after the bill was provisionally approved, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Supporters of HB 2, an abortion bill, react in the gallery of the...

Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, center, sponsor of HB 2, an abortion bill, leaves the Texas House floor after the bill was provisionally approved, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, center, sponsor of HB 2, an...

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House after the bill was provisionally approved, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House...

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House after the bill was provisionally approved, Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Opponents of HB 2, an abortion bill, yell outside the Texas House...

Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, strikes the gavel after a provisional vote on HB 2, an abortion bill approving tough new abortion restrictions, passed Tuesday, July 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. A final, formal vote is scheduled for Wednesday. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Peace Washington stands outside the Texas Capitol dress as the Statute of Liberty, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, in Austin, Texas. The Texas House approved HB 2 with a third and final vote Wednesday, which would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN – The controversy that engulfed the Texas Department of Public Safety in July after leaders said troopers had confiscated jars of urine and feces from abortion activists at the Capitol prompted the agency's chief to urge the release of photos to prove it was not playing politics.

"I am tired of reading that we made this stuff up," Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw wrote in a July 14 email to another top agency official. "Let's get the photos we have to members and the media. Does anyone realistically believe we would fabricate evidence to support a political agenda? Amazing."

Internal agency communications obtained by the San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle show how state police prepared for the chaos that ensued the day the Senate took a final vote in mid-July to pass a sweeping package of abortion restrictions. The documents include security photos of activists, three photos of confiscated items and communication from DPS intelligence analysts highlighting potential threats.

On the day of the vote, thousands of activists – in support and opposition – rallied and demonstrated at the Capitol.

The Department of Public Safety endured heavy criticism for confiscating feminine hygiene products and then later claiming that found and discarded a total of 18 jars of "suspected" urine and feces. The agency never released photographs of the items, prompting lawmakers and activists groups to question the veracity of the claims.